Radio apparatus



y 8, 1934- E. T. TREGENZA 58,282

RADI OAPPARATUS Filed Feb. "7, 1955 Inventor": Ernest F Tregenza,

His Attorneg.

' switchin Patented May 8, 1934 UNITED STATES RADIO APPARATUS Ernest T.Tregenza, Coventry, England, assignor to General Electric Company, acorporation of New York 7 Application February 7, 1933, Serial No.655,659

In Great Britain February 13, 1932 5 Claims.

My invention relates to radio apparatus and more particularly to anindicator for a multirange tuning or switching device.

My invention has for its object to provide a 5 simple indicator incombination with the multirange tuning and switching device forindicating the proper scale and the frequency range corresponding to theswitching operation performed by the operator.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a dial fixed to the variabletuning element of the radio apparatus, and having a plurality of scales,one for each of the frequency ranges over which the radio apparatusoperates by adjustment of the variable tuning element. An additionaldial mechanically connected to the switching mechanism of the apparatusis mounted with respect to the first dial so as to expose only thatscale which is to be used in conjunction with the particular connectionsin the radio apparatus established by the switching means. The switchingmechanism may have' a plurality of positions corresponding to thedifferent frequency bands and'may include an elf position, and in thecase of a receiver, a phonograph position. The change-over switch whenoperated, moves the additional dial so that the proper scale is exposedor appropriate words indicate the condition of the receiver when thedial completely covers up the first scale.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of thisinvention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Myinvention itself, however, both as to its organization and method ofoperation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will bebetter understood by reference to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 shows inelevation one embodiment-of my invention and Fig. 2 shows in elevationthe application of my invention to a different type dial.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, I have illustrated therein a portionof the radio apparatus cabinet 1 provided with an aperture 2 throughwhich both the tuning dial 3 and the switching dial 4 are visible. Thetuning dial 3 is mounted upon the shaft 5 of a suitable variable tuningelement such as a variometer or condenser. The switching mechanism ofthe radio apparatus is connected to a shaft 6 which is also providedwith a sprocket '7 over which a chain operates to cause rotation of theswitching dial 4. It is of course understood that the dial may beoperated by any other (c1. ins-124.3)

suitable mechanical means so that the switching dial will indicate theposition of the switch attached to the shaft 6. The tuning dial 3 isprovided with a plurality of series of indicia or scales representingthe resonant frequency of the apparatus so that each one of the seriesof indicia indicates the frequency range over which the tuning elementattached to the shaft 5 ,will operate. The switching dial 4, which ismounted between the tuning dial 3 and the aperture 2 of the apparatuscabinet 1, is preferably opaque and is provided with apertures so thatonly one of the scales on the tuning dial 3 will be visible at one time.The switching dial 4 isarranged to permit observation of the tuning dial3 only when the radio apparatus is energized, and when the apparatus isdeenergized the dial 4 obscures the view of .the tuning dial 3, and thelegend ofi appears in the aperture 2 of the cabinet 1. Suitable legendssuch as Short wave and Long wave may be placed near the respectiveapertures in the switching dial 4 to indicate the frequency range atwhich the apparatus operates with the particular setting of theswitching mechanism. 30

A suitable light may be provided to illuminate the scales. The words ornotations on the switching dial may be made transparent so that thelight will show through or they maybe en- A graved or painted indifierent colors.

The arrangement disclosed in Fig. 2 shows the application of myinvention to radio apparatus employing a drum dial. The shaft 5 of atuning element is provided with a drum dial 8 which has a plurality ofseries of indicia or scales thereon so that each scale covers one of thefrequency ranges through which the tuning element will operate. Theswitching dial 4 is arranged at right angles to the drum dial 8 andinterposed between the dial and the aperture 2 in the cabinet 1 of theradio apparatus. Although I have only shown two scales on each dial, itis of course understood that any number of scales may be employed andthat the switching dial 4 may be of sufiicient size so as to have aplurality of apertures equal in number to the number of scales on thetuning dial.

My invention has the advantage that it is possible to ascertain thecondition of the radio apparatus by looking at the indication present ata single aperture in the apparatus cabinet. Thus it is not necessary toobserve a plurality of dials locatedat remote points on the cabinet. Myinvention has the further advantage that the poso sibility of confusionis avoided by permitting only one scale to be visible at any time.

While I have shown and described my invention in connection with certainspecific embodiments it will, of course, be understood that I do notwish to be limited thereto, since it is apparent that the principlesherein disclosed are susceptible of numerous other applications, andmodificationsmaybemade intheinstrumentalitiessmployed without departingfrom the spirit and scopeofmyinventionasseti'orthin theappendedWhatIclaimas newanddesiretosecureby Letters Patent oi the United States,is:

1. In multi-range radio apparatus having ad- Jmtable frequency-range,control means, the combination of a dial having a plurality of seriesof indicia, each of said series of indicia representing one frequencyrange of said radio apparatus, and means including a second rotatabledial cooperating with said first dial in accordance 8. The combination,in multi-range radio apparatus having means for changing the frequencyrange of said apparatus, of a dial havinga plurality of series ofindicia representing the resonant frequency of said apparatus, a seconddial cooperating with said first dial, means for changingtheangularpositionofsaidseconddialinaccordance with the changes in thefrequency range of said radio apparatus whereby the unused portions ofsaid first dial are obscured.

4. The combination, in multi-range radio apparatus having means forchanging the frequency of said apparatus, a dial having a plurality ofseries of indicia, a second dial provided with apertures cooperatingwith the indicia of said first dial, means for actuating said seconddial in accordance with changes in the operating condition of said radioapparatus whereby the appropriate portion of said first dial-becomesvisible.

5. The combination, in multi-range radio apparatus having switchingmeans for changing the frequency-range and for energizing anddeenergizing said apparatus, a dial having a plurality oi series ofindicia, a second dial provided with apertures cooperating with therespective indicia of said first dial, means for actuating said seconddial in accordance with changes in the operating condition of said radioapparatus as determined by said switching means whereby the appropriateportion of said first dial is visible when said apparatus is energizedand said first dial is obscured when said apparatus is deenergized.

ERNEST T.

